Personal growth retreats compared
The retreats we've opened so far, side by side, as checked on the official sites on October 31, 2026.
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Retreat
Hoffman Process
7 daysPrice$6,950US · from £4,150 (UK)- Included
- Single room, meals, 90+ hours of teaching
- Rules
- Go without anyone you know
If you can't go$700 deposit; terms not on the US page, ask first
Guide -
Retreat
10-day Vipassana
12 daysPriceFreedonations optional- Included
- Room, vegetarian meals, teaching
- Rules
- Silence, no phone, no reading, stay to the end
If you can't goNothing paid; you commit to stay once there
Guide -
Retreat
Joe Dispenza Week Long
7 daysPrice$2,699tuition (US, Nov 2026)- Included
- Teaching; hotel extra, meals vary
- Rules
- Online course first
If you can't goSee the help-center policy before paying
Guide
Retreat guides
The Hoffman Process
10-day Vipassana
Joe Dispenza retreats
Silent retreats
Seminars compared
Guide in progress: wellness retreats.
Silent retreats: what to expect
A silent retreat means not talking, often for days, to focus on meditation. The best-known format is the 10-day Vipassana course: silence until day 10, which also rules out gestures and notes, phones handed in and about ten hours of meditation a day. Other silent meditation retreats are shorter or less strict, and many charge a fee: silent retreats compared.
How to choose a retreat
- 1Total costIs lodging included? Add travel and any days before or after.
- 2The rulesSilence, phones, diet, contact with others: read them before applying.
- 3If plans changeDeposit, balance date and cancellation terms, in writing.
- 4Your healthIntense retreats aren't therapy; check with your doctor or therapist if in doubt.
Questions people ask
How much does a personal development retreat cost?
Anything from free to many thousands. A 10-day Vipassana course in S.N. Goenka's tradition costs nothing, while the week-long Hoffman Process costs $6,950 in the US with room and meals. Travel comes on top in both cases.
What is a silent retreat?
A retreat where participants don't talk, often for days, to focus on meditation. In a 10-day Vipassana course, silence lasts until day 10 and also rules out gestures and notes.
Is a retreat the same as therapy?
No. Neither the Hoffman Process nor Vipassana is presented as a replacement for treatment, and the Vipassana organizers advise people with significant mental health issues not to attend. If you're in treatment, talk to your therapist first.
What's the difference between the Hoffman Process and Vipassana?
Hoffman is a guided week of group work and exercises in small groups, $6,950 all-inclusive. Vipassana is 10 days of silent meditation, free, with strict rules such as no phones and no talking.